SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Andretti Autosport and Zach Veach have mutually part ways ahead of next weekend’s IndyCar Harvest Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“The decision was made that I will not be returning in 2021 with Andretti Autosport in the No. 26 Gainbridge car,” Veach said in a statement. “This, along with knowing that limited testing exists for teams due to COVID, have led me to the decision to step out of the car for the remainder of the 2020 IndyCar season.”
Veach was nearing the end of his third full-time season with Andretti in the NTT IndyCar Series. He has never won a race and sits 20th in the championship standings. Veach was instrumental in bringing in Gainbridge as a sponsor for Andretti and the Indianapolis 500.
“This is the hardest decision I have ever made, but to me, racing is about family, and it is my belief that you take care of your family. Andretti Autosport is my family and I feel this is what is best to help us all reach the next step.”
“We first welcomed Zach to the Andretti team back in his USF2000 days and have enjoyed watching him grow and evolve as a racer, and a person,” said team owner Michael Andretti. “His decision to allow us to use the last few races to explore our 2021 options shows the measure of his character.”
Andretti said they will announce a replacement driver for the final three races of the season in the Gainbridge #26-car at a later date. The series will have a doubleheader on the road course at IMS for the Harvest Grand Prix starting Oct. 2. The final race of the season is the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Oct. 25.
